Valkyrie Class Coming to Lost Ark on August 20
Lost Ark’s next major update lands on August 20, headlined by the new Valkyrie class. The hybrid sword-wielding fighter arrives as the long-rumored female counterpart to the Paladin, bringing both burst damage and on-demand party buffs to Smilegate’s free-to-play action MMO. It’s the first new support option since Artist joined the roster earlier this year, expanding the pool for players who like to help their team without giving up flashy damage numbers.
Valkyrie’s debut comes at a busy time for Lost Ark. Western servers have been catching up to Korea’s balance patches, while Amazon Games continues to tweak progression events aimed at easing the grind for new and returning players.
- Dual identity skills: Release Light (Z) offers quick offensive buffs, while Light of the Faithful (X) provides emergency healing and shields.
- Ark Passive: Enables explosive burst combos around the key skill Final Splendor, distinguishing her from the Paladin’s steadier back-attack gameplay.
- Three skill families: Justice (pure swordplay), Starlight (dual-blade divine strikes), and Protection (shield-based mitigation).
- Sound design: A mix of sharp, metallic slashes and airy, choir-like cues underscores the “sacred but lethal” theme.
- Visual concept: White-and-gold armor inspired by medieval bridal motifs, complete with halo effects and temporary holy weapons.
- Update extras: A new Progression Event, Mileage Shop rotation, and the long-awaited Ebony Cube adjustments roll out alongside the class.
Lost Ark originally launched in South Korea in 2019 and expanded to North America and Europe in early 2022, quickly becoming one of Steam’s most-played titles. While the game's playerbase is down significantly since launch, it still averages 14,100 concurrent players on Steam.
Further reading: Official Valkyrie Class post
